The problem was never Roman Reigns, it was the WWE.
The day Steve Austin left The Ringmaster persona behind and became Stone Cold, the wrestling audience preferred guys who were just playing extensions of their real personality.
For the past 20 years, that has been the case and nothing has changed.
When the WWE lets the wrestlers be themselves they get over, when they try to prepackaged them they don’t.
One of the best things going in the WWE is THE NEW DAY and they were DEAD IN THE WATER at the beginning. All three of them were going to be fired, but by luck or circumstances, they were allowed to be themselves. Big E isn’t an enforcer, he is an incredibly athletic big man who likes to dance. Xavier Woods was BORN to be on the MIC and Kofi has shown more personality in one year than the previous 10 combined.
Roman Reigns looks the part, The ROCK is his cousin for goodness sakes. Vince took one look at him and made up his mind that he should be DA MAN.
It is like Jay Gruden with Kirk Cousins. No matter what Kirk Cousins does, Jay Gruden simply can find any fault with him, because Kirk is his guy. It is hard to be impartial when you handpick someone.
Reigns isn’t the best talker, he isn’t the best technical wrestler. He is a HIGH IMPACT wrestler, who when allowed to be himself has a smartass charm that is funny. I am not saying he will ever turn into The Rock on the mic, but you get the feeling if they just let him be free without the script, he might surprise some people.
They have tried to find a way to put the belt on him for almost a year a now.
I was totally against it at first, you can’t force feed a champion down your fans throat. They simply won’t accept it. Fans weren’t accepting Reigns because they felt he didn’t earn it.
It is the same way they wasn’t going to accept a Batista vs. Randy Orton main event at WM 30 and that is why Daniel Bryan after years of busting his ass (at the detriment of his own health) got the belt.
They weren’t going to accept Reigns last year, that is why Seth Rollins who low-key had always been the most well-rounded member of the Shield got his chance to shine.
Fast forward to now Reigns still has his moments where you roll your eyes as he is forgetting his lines, but you can’t say he hasn’t busted his tail since WM 31 to now.
He started a slow build, not from the bottom, but from the mid-card to back to the top of the card. His matches have gotten better, his mic work has gotten better, his reactions from the crowd have gotten better and he has learned how to tell a story in the ring.
I affectionately call him Baby Cena, because at times he is equally booed and cheered, but unlike Cena, Reigns loses in big spots.
That is where now he is like Tony Romo, he has had his bumps in the road, but he is a critical part of the WWE success and has paid his dues.
I think Romo has proven he is an elite quarterback when he is healthy and Reigns has proven at least to me, when the belt is finally put on him, he will be able to take the ball and run with it.
So, cut him some slack WWE fans, it is one thing to act like you are entitled, it is a totally another thing to just be booked improperly and having to deal with the backlash the best way you can. Reigns has worked hard for his opportunity, so I hope he and the WWE doesn’t blow it when he actually gets it.